Winning at business

Report: 82% of new small businesses have insurance, but many SMBs remain at risk

ERGO NEXT reports that 82% of new small businesses have insurance, yet 73% remain underinsured, often due to cost, confusion, and compliance issues.
What tracked chief revenue officer moves tell us about the last 13 months
ZoomInfo reports significant volatility in chief revenue officer roles, with 47% of hires coming from external sources, reflecting a trend of rapid turnover and poaching.
ERGO NEXT reports that 50% of small business owners regret not understanding their insurance needs in their first year.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
October is the stock market's most volatile month. Here's what 95 years of data shows
Plus500 reports October is the most volatile month for the stock market, historically showing an average positive return, despite significant past crashes.
Rocket Lawyer reports on managing political discussions at work, urging employers to set clear conduct policies that don't suppress viewpoints but address disruptions and potential harassment.
Finder reports that customer service and onboarding are key in choosing a bank, while J.D. Power's 2026 survey highlights Chase and Capital One as top banks.
Manufacturers are modernizing fast. Their supply chains may not be ready.
WSI reports that manufacturers are modernizing rapidly, but their supply chains may struggle to keep pace, revealing a significant mismatch in modernization efforts.
ZoomInfo reports sales teams are quickly adopting AI but struggle to prove its ROI. Measurement discipline is key to effective investment and attribution.
(NewsUSA) - After a car crash, dealing with injuries, medical appointments and vehicle repairs can be overwhelming enough. Then comes another challenge: dealing with insurance companies.While …
RevOps job postings are outpacing hires so fast that one company is running the same search on two continents
ZoomInfo reports a surge in RevOps job postings outpacing hires, prompting companies to conduct simultaneous global searches due to a talent shortage.
Rocket Lawyer reports that small business owners often sacrifice time and income for flexibility and control, but these sacrifices can become permanent if not reassessed.
Xero reports that U.S. small businesses wait an average of 29.3 days for payment. These reminder email templates can help collect late invoices while preserving client relationships.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Commercial development districts eyed for Snelling & University
When Allianz Field plans took shape more than a decade ago, one hoped-for effect was for an active hospitality community. Black Hart, Midway Saloon, Turf Club, Sports Bar and Ethiopian Restaurant and …
Midway Hospital, circa 1950. (Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society)
Monitor in a minute - Sep 2026
Board denies Domino’s variance A plan to convert a longtime Midway dry cleaners into a Domino’s Pizza takeout restaurant was tossed Aug. 3 by the St. Paul Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). The BZA …
utFront Media’s long quest to erect a large digital display billboard near Highway 280 and Interstate 94 continues with an appearance before the St. Paul Planning Commission in the weeks ahead. District councils from Union Park and St. Anthony Park are opposing the proposal, as is the anti-billboard group Scenic St. Paul.
Highway 280/I-94 billboard fight drags on
OutFront Media’s long quest to erect a large digital display billboard near Highway 280 and Interstate 94 continues with an appearance before the St. Paul Planning Commission in the weeks ahead. …
In August 2021, the former Walmart was being transformed into At Home. The vacant property has now been sold, along with the former Cub building, to a company affiliated with H-Mart.
H-Mart in Midway?
Is the popular H-Mart grocery chain coming to Midway Marketplace? There’s excitement due to the recent sale of the shuttered Cub Foods and At Home stores to a New Jersey limited-liability …
Should Hamline Avenue be three lanes instead of four?
Hamline Avenue between Selby and University avenues is a smoother ride, thanks to skim coating work done in June. Union Park District Council and Hamline Midway Coalition leaders asked if street …
Small Business Features

How to reduce finance tool sprawl in an early-stage company

Mercury reports that early-stage companies struggle with finance tool sprawl, which adds complexity and costs, and recommends consolidating financial workflows to streamline operations.

How to manage the accounts receivable process step by step

Ramp reports that the accounts receivable (AR) process is crucial for tracking customer payments and ensuring steady cash flow, enabling timely operations and growth.
Merchants are running separate shipping operations for parcel and LTL freight, and only optimizing one
ShipStation reports that many retailers run two separate shipping operations: one optimized for parcel and another for LTL freight, often leading to inefficiencies.
Survey: How US restaurants are handling inflation, labor, AI, and revenue growth
Toast reports that in 2026, 91% of U.S. restaurant operators rate their business as good or excellent, despite challenges like inflation and hiring.
Survey: 64% of US adults are sitting on a business idea they never launched
Founder Reports finds that 64% of U.S. adults have business ideas they've never launched, often leading to feelings of regret, especially when they see others succeed with similar concepts.
As algo trading grows, are prop firm rules keeping up?
Velotrade reports that automation in trading is rising, leading to potential mismatches with existing prop firm rules. 
From content to conversion: The role of creators in beauty marketing
SJOLIE reports on the vital role of content creators in beauty marketing, emphasizing their influence over consumer trust and purchasing decisions amidst evolving search behaviors.
Entrepreneurship

More than 1 in 5 self-employed buyers who applied to multiple lenders reported an earlier turn-down

Griffin Funding reports 21.4% of self-employed buyers faced earlier mortgage application turn-downs, compared to 14.5% of wage-employed buyers, amid rising non-QM origination volume.

Wells Fargo reports couples can successfully run a business together by defining roles, creating long-term plans, maintaining communication, and separating work from personal life.
Brex reports that the cost of the Startup Starter Kit has risen to $4,417, reflecting a 14% increase, with AI tools becoming central to new companies’ spending.

Companies spend six figures on AI. A third of employees don't know what it costs

Zapier reports that companies are significantly investing in AI, with 52% spending over $100K monthly, yet a third of employees are unaware of these costs.
Get Ahead in Business
Your employees have caregiving responsibilities. Is your small business prepared?
Rocket Lawyer reports that small businesses must prepare for employees with caregiving responsibilities by establishing clear policies to avoid confusion and legal issues.
AudioEye reports that a single person can effectively manage a digital accessibility program by owning accountability and prioritization, while outsourcing specialized testing and fixes.
Sinch reports 88% of companies expect AI agents to handle customer interactions by year-end. 
From paychecks to pay transparency, survey shows why payroll is becoming a strategic trust function
Paylocity reports that payroll is evolving from a simple financial process to a strategic function, emphasizing transparency and communication in employee trust.
Intuit QuickBooks reports that payroll costs extend beyond salaries, factoring in software, taxes, and time management.
ERGO NEXT reports that Hispanic-owned businesses are growing 7.7% annually, nearly 17 times the national average, contributing significantly to the U.S. economy.
The most common business automation use cases in 2026, according to 20 million live workflows
Zapier reports the most common business automation tasks in 2026 focus on lead capture, notifications, and record management, covering 81.1% of workflows.
Ironclad reports on overcoming imposter syndrome in procurement, emphasizing the importance of confidence, vulnerability, and strong stakeholder relationships.
Clym reports thousands of businesses face lawsuits under California's 1967 privacy law, stemming from cookie banners not matching actual data tracking practices.